Sharpen those carving knives, you got family coming over! Also, it’s Thanksgiving. This is a holiday all about looking back and all around you and being grateful, a feeling we think you’ll have once you finish our guide to the best Thanksgiving movies of all time.
The sentimentalism game is usually reserved for Christmas movies – Thanksgiving movies are about the family dynamic, both good and bad. Films like Pieces of April and Planes, Trains and Automobiles focus on the positive, as stressful as traveling or preparing meals may be. Meanwhile, The Ice Storm and Krisha take bitter delight in the way the holiday forces people who may not be all too fond of each other together. And other movies you’ll find here, like Funny People or Addams Family Values, may not be the first thing you think of when approaching this time of year, but have memorable or significant scenes set around the Thanksgiving table. Some films get a little greedy: Miracle on 34th St. and The Santa Clause are primarily known as Christmas movies, while Holiday Inn literally covers all the holidays. But what’s Thanksgiving without overextending your appetite?
And recently, we’ve blown open the invitation list! Let’s welcome in new blockbusters (Spider-Man and Rocky have great Thanksgiving scenes), romances (Sweet November, The Object of My Affection), ’90s family comedies (Son-in-Law, Beethoven), cult classics (Dutch, The Wiz), silent comedy masterpieces (The Gold Rush), and Fantastic Mr. Fox, animated with thankful, auburn family joy. From there, we ranked all the films by Tomatometer, with Certified Fresh films first.
Now we’re ready to serve up this cornucopia of cinema, so enjoy the best Thanksgiving movies ever! —Alex Vo
#1
Adjusted Score: 108358%
Critics Consensus: A delightful blend of slapstick humor, poignant emotion, and social commentary, The Gold Rush encapsulates Chaplin’s strengths as a writer, director, and star.
#2
Adjusted Score: 105267%
Critics Consensus: Irrefutable proof that gentle sentimentalism can be the chief ingredient in a wonderful film, Miracle on 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message without resorting to treacle.
#3
Adjusted Score: 98102%
Critics Consensus: Raw, bracingly honest, and refreshingly unconventional, Krisha wrings fresh — and occasionally uncomfortable — truths from a seemingly familiar premise.
#4
Adjusted Score: 102877%
Critics Consensus: Fantastic Mr. Fox is a delightfully funny feast for the eyes with multi-generational appeal — and it shows Wes Anderson has a knack for animation.
#5
Adjusted Score: 98496%
Critics Consensus: The Humans takes its Tony-winning source material from stage to screen without sacrificing the essence of writer-director Stephen Karam’s dysfunctional drama.
#6
Adjusted Score: 97822%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to the impeccable chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy, as well as a deft mix of humor and heart, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a hilarious, heartfelt holiday classic.
#7
Adjusted Score: 101238%
Critics Consensus: This story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable, but Sylvester Stallone’s script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints.
#8
Adjusted Score: 96520%
Critics Consensus: Smart, tender, and funny in equal measure, Hannah and Her Sisters is one of Woody Allen’s finest films.
#9
Adjusted Score: 98589%
Critics Consensus: Not only does Spider-Man provide a good dose of web-swinging fun, it also has a heart, thanks to the combined charms of director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire.
#10
Adjusted Score: 91157%
Critics Consensus: Solid performances lift this drama to a higher level.
#11
Adjusted Score: 90385%
Critics Consensus: Director Ang Lee revisits the ennui-laden decadence of 1970s suburban America with deft humor and gripping pathos.
#12
Adjusted Score: 88895%
Critics Consensus: It might soar on Al Pacino’s performance more than the drama itself, but what a performance it is — big, bold, occasionally over-the-top, and finally giving the Academy pause to award the star his first Oscar.
#13
Adjusted Score: 89072%
Critics Consensus: Pieces of April transcends its small-scale setting and budget with endearing performances, playful humor, and genuine sweetness, resulting in a touching holiday treat.
#14
Adjusted Score: 84462%
Critics Consensus: Much like the titular cuisine, Soul Food blends a series of savory ingredients to offer warm, generous helpings of nourishment and comfort.
#15
Adjusted Score: 90710%
Critics Consensus: Mistress America brings out the best in collaborators Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, distilling its star’s charm and director’s dark wit into a ferociously funny co-written story.
#16
Adjusted Score: 90155%
Critics Consensus: Instant Family may not quite capture the complexity of real-life adoption, but fittingly for the unconditional bond it honors, this flawed yet well-intentioned dramedy is ultimately worth the investment.
#17
Adjusted Score: 80159%
Critics Consensus: Presenting a sexual awakening with surprising candor, Tadpole is a spiky coming of age tale that benefits from a deeply felt performance by Aaron Stanford and a script that is unafraid to wade into morally choppy waters.
#18
Adjusted Score: 86203%
Critics Consensus: New, well-developed characters add dimension to this batty satire, creating a comedy much more substantial than the original.
#19
Adjusted Score: 77100%
Critics Consensus: The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it’s firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films.
#20
Adjusted Score: 103149%
Critics Consensus: With the combined might of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Irving Berlin working in its favor, Holiday Inn is a seasonal classic — not least because it introduced “White Christmas” to the world.
#21
Adjusted Score: 46709%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#22
Adjusted Score: 87644%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#23
Adjusted Score: 69446%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#24
Adjusted Score: 30665%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#25
Adjusted Score: 74719%
Critics Consensus: The Big Chill captures a generation’s growing ennui with a terrific cast, a handful of perceptive insights, and one of the decade’s best film soundtracks.
#26
Adjusted Score: 71983%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#27
Adjusted Score: 30825%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#28
Adjusted Score: 75165%
Critics Consensus: Great chemistry between the leads made this a warm and charming delight.
#29
Adjusted Score: 72807%
Critics Consensus: Rocky II is a movie that dares you to root again for the ultimate underdog — and succeeds due to an infectiously powerful climax.
#30
Adjusted Score: 78393%
Critics Consensus: Funny People features the requisite humor, as well as considerable emotional depth, resulting in Judd Apatow’s most mature film to date.
#31
Adjusted Score: 23884%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#32
Adjusted Score: 74853%
Critics Consensus: Tower Heist is a true Brett Ratner joint: little brains to this caper, but it’s fun fluff, exciting to watch, and showcases a welcome return to form for Eddie Murphy.
#33
Adjusted Score: 74071%
Critics Consensus: It might strike some viewers as a little too pat, but The Blind Side has the benefit of strong source material and a strong performance from Sandra Bullock.
#34
Adjusted Score: 65063%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#35
Adjusted Score: 67257%
Critics Consensus: Much like a real-life visit Home for the Holidays, this Thanksgiving-set dramedy can get a little bumpy — but it also has its share of fondly memorable moments.
#36
Adjusted Score: 67817%
Critics Consensus: Grumpy Old Men‘s stars are better than the material they’re given — but their comedic chemistry is so strong that whenever they share the screen, it hardly matters.
#37
Adjusted Score: 64926%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#38
Adjusted Score: 64178%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#39
Adjusted Score: 67307%
Critics Consensus: The Oath draws on hyper-partisan modern politics for a pointedly funny satire that hits its targets hard and often enough to more than achieve its desired discomfort.
#40
Adjusted Score: 64000%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#41
Adjusted Score: 60537%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#42
Adjusted Score: 60183%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#43
Adjusted Score: 51869%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#44
Adjusted Score: 15577%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#45
Adjusted Score: 58250%
Critics Consensus: It struggles to enliven its uneven script, but Stuck in Love boasts enough winning performances from its solid veteran cast to offer an appealing diversion for rom-com enthusiasts.
#46
Adjusted Score: 56157%
Critics Consensus: Despite heartfelt performances from Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, The Object of My Affection suffers from too many plot contrivances and frequent turns into rom-com sappiness.
#47
Adjusted Score: 53979%
Critics Consensus: What’s Cooking? is well-acted, but the scenes sometimes sink into melodrama as characters scream at each other, and the movie as a whole is too lightweight and forgettable.
#48
Adjusted Score: 56492%
Critics Consensus: Despite striking a believable rapport among its principal actors, Four Brothers overwhelms with ultra-violent, vigilante-glorifying action and devolves into too many fractured, insubstantial thematic directions.
#49
Adjusted Score: 46433%
Critics Consensus: This workmanlike movie musical lacks the electricity of the stage version (and its cinematic inspiration), but it’s bolstered by strong performances by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
#50
Adjusted Score: 38152%
Critics Consensus: Paul Blart: Mall Cop has some laughs, but its plot is flimsy and lacking in any sustained comic momentum.
#51
Adjusted Score: 32957%
Critics Consensus: Fluffy and incorrigible, Beethoven is a good boy who deserves a better movie.
#52
Adjusted Score: 33349%
Critics Consensus: While there may be some mild culture clash yucks to be had for those who enjoy Pauly Shore’s shtick, this Son-In-Law is too obnoxious to be worthy of bringing home to your family.
#53
Adjusted Score: 32566%
Critics Consensus: A bland, fluffy, and predictable bit of wish fulfillment.
#54
Adjusted Score: 23539%
Critics Consensus: Technically proficient yet creatively moribund, Free Birds begs unfortunate comparisons with the dim-witted fowl that inspired it.
#55
Adjusted Score: 19571%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#56
Adjusted Score: 18372%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#57
Adjusted Score: 18076%
Critics Consensus: Schmaltzy and manipulative, Sweet November suffers from an implausible plot and non-existent chemistry between its leads.
#58
Adjusted Score: 5010%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#59
Adjusted Score: 14837%
Critics Consensus: Though the screenplay and the novel it’s based on were both written by the same person, critics say Hanging Up is an unsuccessful adaptation. The acting is praised as solid, but is ultimately unable to save the film.
#60
Adjusted Score: 7196%
Critics Consensus: Although it features an inexplicably committed performance from Al Pacino, Jack and Jill is impossible to recommend on any level whatsoever.